The Black Within

About

In "The Black Within," become Laila Rose, a down-on-her-luck musician who sold her soul for fame and fortune. Venture into the aby at the instruction of your new boss, Arne Cheyenne, facing the consequences of your actions. This psychological horror experience challenges you with a battle of fear versus change, pain versus hope, and takes roughly 70 minutes to complete.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 98 reviews

story26 positive mentions

replayability1 negative mentions

The Black Within delivers a solid horror experience with good tension and an engaging story, especially for a debut title.
The sound design is immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere and contributing to the scares.
The game features a variety of jump scares and a creepy ambiance, making it enjoyable for fans of the horror genre.

The game is very short, taking less than an hour to complete, which raises concerns about its replay value and justifies waiting for a sale.
Puzzles are generally easy and lack complexity, making the gameplay feel standard and unremarkable compared to other indie horror titles.
Some assets feel out of place, such as modern technology in an old, abandoned setting, which disrupts immersion.

story
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
5%
The game's story is engaging and thought-provoking, exploring themes of ambition and the consequences of making deals with dark forces, particularly within the music industry. While some players found the narrative to be a bit short and occasionally lacking depth, many appreciated its emotional impact and the eerie atmosphere it created. Overall, the storytelling is considered inventive and meaningful, though some felt it could benefit from further development.
- “The story had meaning to it and it brought tears to my eyes.”
- “The storytelling was rich, original, and has a very important message behind it.”
- “Without spoiling the ending, I feel that anyone who has ever wanted to go 'viral' or worked in the entertainment industry could relate to the story in this game.”
- “The story is too quick, too sudden; basically, it says 'what will happen if you make a deal with a dark thing.'”
- “However, with that being said, I think this story is not only all over the place, but also highly unbelievable.”
- “I did not like the ending; I was hoping for something more abstract instead of the story just spelling out the intended message.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
4%
4%
The game is praised for its genuinely creepy atmosphere, characterized by effective jumpscares, random paranormal activity, and a sense of dread that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the rich visuals and psychologically intense narrative, which contribute to a tense and immersive environment across various locations. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of horror games.
- “Atmosphere was great in this game; I loved the random paranormal activity that occurred in the house, creating a sense of dread like something was behind you.”
- “I enjoyed the rich atmospheric visuals, engaging psychologically intense narrative, and exceptional design; it was impressive.”
- “The game delivers good spooks and maintains a tense atmosphere.”
- “The game has a genuinely creepy atmosphere.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with some players praising the rich atmospheric visuals and solid performance, while others criticized the dated interface and the use of bought or free assets. Despite occasional sound issues that affected immersion, many found the graphics impressive at times, suggesting a blend of strengths and weaknesses in the overall visual presentation.
- “The graphics were amazing at times.”
- “I enjoyed the rich atmospheric visuals, engaging psychologically intense narrative, and exceptional design was impressive.”
- “The graphics and interface are extremely dated for a new 2024 game.”
- “Graphics are a bit lacking and bought/free assets are used.”
- “The game looks solid graphically.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The gameplay is generally smooth and well-executed, with mechanics that are polished compared to other indie horror titles. However, it relies heavily on a standard formula, featuring repetitive playthroughs and typical mini puzzles, which some players feel does not justify the price for the limited gameplay duration.
- “I do have to say that all of the mechanics are well taken care of in comparison to many other titles built on the same formula.”
- “The actual mechanics of the game are pretty standard: mini puzzles to progress through the game (find keys, enter combinations, etc.) and with some pretty decent scares in between.”
- “Smooth gameplay all throughout.”
- “While it avoids major technical issues that are common in similar indie horror games, the gameplay feels like it uses the standard formula and each playthrough is nearly identical.”
- “- the price is too high for an hour of gameplay.”
- “The actual mechanics of the game are pretty standard: mini puzzles to progress through the game (find keys, enter combinations, etc) and with some pretty decent scares in between.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack and sound effects for enhancing the horror experience, while others feel that the grandiose music does not align with the game's short indie narrative. Additionally, there are suggestions for using copyright-free music in future projects to avoid issues with content creators. Overall, the artistic vision behind the music and sound design is acknowledged as a strong point.
- “But the game has some good sides - it has no bugs and has a nice soundtrack.”
- “Not only the music, but the sound effects, as well as the sounds for the jump scares and horror aspects of the game.”
- “Waleedzo has a very clear artistic vision and talent as seen in the cutscenes, music choice, and voice actors chosen for this project, as all were done very well.”
- “The grandiose music and deep quotes do not fit the narrative of a 50-minute indie horror game.”
- “Not only the music, but the sound effects, as well as the sounds for the jump scares and horror aspects of the game, were lacking.”
- “Some of the most effective moments weren't even accompanied by music!”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever Easter eggs, such as the reference to xqc's emote, and amusing sound effects that make item collection feel like eating rather than storing. Players find these elements to be genuinely funny and enjoyable.
- “The sound for picking up items was hilarious, as it sounded like you were eating things instead of putting them in your pocket.”
- “Good easter egg behind the painting of xQc's emote, made me laugh!”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The Black Within provides a compelling experience with strong tension, but it is noted for having limited replayability, making it less appealing for multiple playthroughs.
- “The game offers good tension, but lacks replay value.”